How To Overcome the Stress of the Christmas Season

Is Christmas time a time of stress and frustration for you?

Christmas was a time of angst. yes angst. I fretted over what to buy the relatives and my kids. I stressed over the food production. I got angry when things didn’t go as I planned. Through all the joy of the season — there was no peace in my heart.

My acronym for PEACE is: Put Everything Aside Christ Enters.

When I did that — put everything aside, the Holy Spirit worked wonders in my heart.

Definition of Peace

So living well — what does that entail? — your body, mind, relationships, and your being filled with purpose.

In the New Testament peace means eirene — Messiah’s peace, tranquil state of soul, salvation.

Jesus is our peace

So in this world Jesus said, in Matthew 10:34, that He did not come to bring peace to earth. Instead He brought peace to His people.

With the Holy Spirit we can find that peace NO MATTER what is going on around us.

I looked at two places for peace. Here on earth and in the second coming of Christ.

Here on earth — how can we find peace?

In a world that seems to be falling apart around us, how can we find that peace to continue to live fruitful and productive lives, filled with hope, joy and love?

1. Seek Jesus. Listen to Isaiah 9:6

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Our creche scene outside our residence in Arizona

2. Work hard at it.

Peace isn’t easy but it is attainable. Listen to Ephesians 4:1–3

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Did you hear that — be humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love? And unity of the Spirit — work at relationships. Think of things from their point of view. Stop thinking of ourselves. Let the Holy Spirit work in you — that means conviction, restitution, pain but then freedom.

3. Deal with Reality

We all deal with some of these: sickness, sorrow, finance, broken relationships. We see the atrocities that are happening in our world. We see human trafficking. We see slavery. We see climate changing and storms getting bigger and bolder. Things are not as they should be.

The world says: our knowledge and our science will make it better.

Really? Do you see that? We still lead broken lives. It’s beyond our ability to fix it.

We need a Saviour.

But for God, Who gave up His Son, so we would not perish.

But for God, Who gives us hope of life with Him.

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord (Luke 2:11, NIV).”

Batik watercolour by Janis Cox

Where else we will find peace?

Let’s Look at The Second Coming of Christ

In this world we have a taste of God’s Kingdom. We have seen restoration of health, marriages and a turn from addictions. We have longed for this Kingdom. And there will be peace — perfect peace.

“Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:7, NIV).”

When we see Jesus return, He will bring the New Kingdom.

We will have the full meal — the banquet — all of it. Then His government will never end.

But even in the midst of our brokenness and pain, we still know that God loves this world. Why do we know this? Because God became Flesh to show us how to have peace with God here on earth.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:1–5, NIV).”

May I pray for you and me?

Father, we thank You for Jesus. We know He is our hope and He is our peace while we live our lives on this earth. We know it isn’t perfect here. But we also know You are always with us to give us well-being. We can continue on because of what Jesus did on the Cross. We can be directly connected to God even in the midst of the world’s troubles. Thank You for Christmas. May we see You in Christmas and not the world. May we look to You to help us be humble, be thoughtful, be kind and in be good relationships with our families and friends. Let us taste and see the goodness that we can have here on earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.